Frequently asked questions
WHAT IS COLLAGEN?
First off, collagen is a structural protein. But further, it’s the primary structural protein found in animals. In fact, collagen is the most common protein in the human body.
But it’s not only found in humans. As many different animal foods contain collagen peptides. Like pig skin, for example.
Sadly though, there aren’t many collagen rich foods. And as such, people have to supplement with collagen.
So, when people talk about collagen peptides, they likely mean the supplement. That is, hydrolyzed collagen: a protein sold in pill or powder form.
Now sometimes, hydrolyzed collagen can be called collagen hydrolysate. Just know that they’re the same thing.
So all told, collagen is a common protein found in animals. But hydrolyzed collagen is a popular protein supplement. And as you’ll learn, it’s a supplement that you should take if you want to age well…
COLLAGEN AND SKIN CARE: WHAT DOES COLLAGEN DO FOR YOUR SKIN?
More so than anything else, collagen supplements are known for their effects on skin. And, believe it or not, that’s for very good reason.
Most studies show that collagen supplements can help with skin care. That is, hydrolyzed collagen benefits skin health almost every single time.
So, most studies agree. Showing that collagen supplements are good for skin health.
And that better yet, collagen peptides don’t just improve skin health. But in fact, you notice that your skin looks better with collagen.
COLLAGEN AND SKIN HYDRATION
Studies show that collagen supplements can help re-hydrate skin. So, if you have dry, cracked, or scaling skin, then collagen may help you.
And in general, the more collagen you take, the faster your skin re-hydrates. For example, 10 grams of collagen per day moisturizes skin quicker than 2.5 or 5 grams of collagen per day. Since higher doses can boost collagen synthesis by more.
But with that said, even just 2.5 grams per day can help with skin hydration in under 4 weeks. At least for the face, neck, and forearms, that is.
And lastly, collagen supplements can help anyone with skin hydration. But for some reason, it seems to work faster in the elderly.
So the more collagen you take, the better (up to at least 10 grams/day). And, the older you are, the faster collagen seems to work for you.
SUMMARY:
Hydrolyzed collagen can re-hydrate skin, bringing back any lost moisture.
At least up to 10 grams per day, the more collagen you take, the better.
And even just small collagen doses of 2.5 grams/day can re-hydrate skin. Within 4 weeks, at that.
Lastly, collagen supplements seem to moisturize skin faster for the elderly.
source: https://builtwithscience.com/hydrolyzed-collagen-best-supplement-skin-care/
COLLAGEN AND WRINKLES
Luckily, collagen supplements can help get rid of wrinkles as well; masking all those dreaded lines in your skin.
Plus, the deepest wrinkles fade the most quickly with collagen. And so, the deeper the wrinkle, the quicker it gets filled in.
But better yet, even if you stop using collagen, your wrinkles won’t return for weeks. Literally. You could stop taking collagen for a month, and still reap the benefits… Pretty cool, right?
Indeed, collagen fills in your deepest wrinkles faster. But better yet, it can keep them filled in for up to a month after you stop using collagen.
Collagen always reduces wrinkling within 3 months. Plus, you shouldn’t see more wrinkles at any time point. Since collagen has shown to clear up wrinkles in as few as 3 weeks. So if you see more wrinkles after first using collagen, fear not. Just hang in there, as these wrinkles will soon disappear… And your pre-existing wrinkles will too.
But with that said, you should never really see more wrinkles with hydrolyzed collagen.
COLLAGEN AND SAGGING SKIN
A most hated feature of aging, loose skin is quite common. But on the bright side, hydrolyzed collagen can help tighten up your loose skin.
In fact, even small collagen doses can make your skin sag less. And better yet, that’s within just 4 weeks.
Which makes sense, as collagen supplements make your skin more elastic. That is, they can make your skin more resistant to stretch. Thus, they help tighten up any loose skin.
Further though, if you stop taking collagen for a month, your skin stays more elastic. So even weeks after you stop using collagen, your skin might sag less.
So all told, collagen can quickly boost your skin’s elasticity. Which means that it can help your skin sag less in just a few weeks. But further, you could stop taking collagen for weeks, and your skin would still sag less.
SUMMARY:
Collagen can help tighten up any of your loose skin.
And even in small doses, collagen can benefit skin health. Within a month or so, no less.
But further, if you stop taking collagen, your skin may sag less for weeks to come.
Lastly, collagen can help both the young and the old.
source: https://builtwithscience.com/hydrolyzed-collagen-best-supplement-skin-care/
COLLAGEN, SUN DAMAGE, AND SKIN SPOTS
As you may know, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage your skin. And that causes our skin to age sooner than normal. But luckily for us, collagen can help fight some of this sun damage.
In fact, collagen seems to mask signs of photo-aging, as well as related skin spots. Since for example, collagen can shrink UV spots in under 8 weeks of use.
So, if you take collagen for ~1 month, your sun spots should start to shrink.
Plus, collagen can help make our sun-exposed skin look better. Leaving us with fewer, less-pronounced fine lines after 17 weeks of use.
Thus, collagen can help cover up sun-related skin aging.
Moving on though, one study showed that collagen can help reverse signs of sun damage too. As after 12 weeks, collagen users had less wrinkling, crow’s feet, and skin dryness.
And what’s more, hydrolyzed collagen also seems to help with skin pigmentation and sunburns. Hence, it can help make sunburn go away faster. Yet, it still leaves your skin with a nice color.
COLLAGEN AND WOUND HEALING
When pressure against your skin cuts off blood-flow, then ulcers can form. And what do you know? Collagen supplements can help with pressure ulcers (i.e. bed sores) too.
For example, collagen peptides have been shown to speed up ulcer healing by quite a bit.
Both by cutting recovery time in half, and shrinking wound area.
So, if you have a pressure ulcer, collagen makes it fade away faster. And while we don’t have that many studies, collagen seems to improve wound healing in general.
COLLAGEN AND PORES
Pores are the oil-producing holes in our skin. And we tend to hate having them around. So good for us, collagen can make them go away.
Indeed, collagen help you get rid of pores over time… Well, I mean, it helps most of us.
To be clear, 81% of people in this study had fewer pores after using collagen. Which is a lot of people, no doubt. Although, that’s not quite everyone.
COLLAGEN AND SKIN ROUGHNESS
If you have rough skin, then collagen seems to help.
For example, collagen has been shown to make your face smoother. And that’s within 8 weeks.
Most people claim to have softer, smoother skin with collagen. And further, the photos show that collagen benefits skin as well.
So all told, collagen seems to help make your skin smoother. All within 60-90 days, no less. But note, your results may vary, as some of us respond better than others.
COLLAGEN AND CELLULITE
What’s more, collagen powder seems to help get rid of cellulite too.
That’s right. Those dreaded waves on your skin can fade away in time. And all you have to do is take collagen.
Well, maybe. Truly, there’s just 1 study on collagen and cellulite. But it had some cool findings.
First off, this study included both normal and overweight women with cellulite. And these women were put into one of two groups. That is, one group that took collagen. Or another that took a placebo.
And after 6 months, collagen users had much less wavy skin. Or in other words, collagen showed to help get rid of cellulite.
Now, for some reason, collagen seemed to help leaner people by more. As normal-weight women saw their cellulite fade away even faster in this study.
So collagen can help you with cellulite in any case. But it may help a bit faster if you’re leaner.
